Practical Solutions for Bed Height and Support
Getting in and out of bed is something most of us do without much thought. But after an injury, surgery, illness, or simply with changes in strength and mobility, it can become one of the more difficult parts of the day.
Sometimes the problem is obvious. The bed is too high, and getting onto it feels like climbing. Or it’s too low, making it difficult to stand up.
Other times, the bed seems to be the right height, but there’s nothing suitable to hold onto. A person may struggle to move from lying to sitting, turn toward the edge of the mattress, or get safely onto their feet.
Fortunately, there are several ways to make getting in and out of bed easier. Some involve inexpensive adjustments to the bed itself. Others involve bed rails, transfer poles, or specialized equipment.
The challenge is figuring out which solution will actually work.
At Good Company, we help people make their homes safer and more accessible throughout Toronto and the surrounding area. In my experience, beds can be particularly frustrating to adapt. Unlike many bathroom fixtures, there is enormous variation in how beds are constructed, and equipment that works beautifully with one bed may be completely unsuitable for another.
Let’s look at the possibilities.
Is Your Bed Too High or Too Low?
Before buying equipment, it’s worth considering whether the height of the bed is contributing to the problem.
A bed that’s too high can make it difficult to get onto the mattress. Someone may have to climb or push themselves backward onto the bed, sometimes without their feet securely on the floor.
A bed that’s too low presents a different challenge. Standing up from a low surface requires more effort, particularly for someone with reduced leg strength, painful joints, or difficulty with balance.
The important measurement isn’t simply the height of the bed frame. It’s the height of the mattress when someone is actually sitting on it.
A thick, soft mattress can compress considerably under a person’s weight. Two beds that measure exactly the same height when empty may feel very different when someone sits on them.
As a general starting point, someone sitting at the edge of the bed should be able to place their feet securely on the floor and move into a stable position for standing. Their knees and hips, strength, balance, and usual transfer technique all matter.
There isn’t one ideal bed height for everyone. Someone who uses a wheelchair, for example, may need a different arrangement than someone who walks independently but struggles to stand.
If the person is recovering from surgery, has significant mobility limitations, or is at risk of falling, an occupational therapist or physiotherapist can help determine an appropriate height and transfer method.
Ways to Lower a Bed
Many modern beds are surprisingly high. Thick mattresses, tall box springs, and decorative frames can combine to create a sleeping surface that’s difficult to reach.
Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need to replace the entire bed.
Replace a standard box spring with a low-profile foundation
Traditional box springs and mattress foundations can add considerable height.
Low-profile versions are available that provide a similar supporting function while reducing the overall bed height by several inches.
This can be an effective solution if the existing foundation is contributing to the problem.
However, it’s important to check the requirements of the mattress and bed frame. Not every mattress or frame is designed to work with every type of foundation.
Remove the box spring, if the bed permits it
Some beds have a platform or closely spaced supporting slats that can support a mattress without a separate box spring.
Others depend on the box spring or foundation for structural support.
If your bed is designed to accommodate the mattress directly, removing an unnecessary foundation may substantially reduce its height.
But don’t simply remove the box spring and assume the mattress will be properly supported. The bed frame and mattress manufacturer’s requirements need to be checked first.
Consider a lower bed frame
Some decorative bed frames position the mattress quite high above the floor. A lower-profile platform bed can make a significant difference.
This may be worth considering when the existing frame is unsuitable for other accessibility equipment as well.
Consider the mattress itself
Mattresses vary considerably in thickness. A very thick mattress may be contributing to an excessively high bed.
Replacing it with a thinner, suitably supportive mattress is another possibility, although mattress comfort, pressure management, and any clinical requirements should also be considered.
Changing the mattress can also affect the compatibility of an existing bed rail, so these decisions shouldn’t be made independently of one another.
Ways to Raise a Bed
Raising a bed is often simpler than lowering one, but there are some important considerations.
Bed risers or bed elevators
Bed risers are blocks or supports designed to fit beneath the legs of furniture, raising it several inches.
They’re widely available, relatively inexpensive, and can sometimes solve the problem without replacing any furniture.
For someone struggling to stand from a low bed, even a modest increase in height may help.
However, not every bed is suitable for risers.
Before using them, consider:
- The legs: Do the bed legs fit securely into the risers? Are they an appropriate shape and size?
- The weight: Are the risers rated to support the bed, mattress, occupants, and expected loads?
- The structure: Does the bed have additional centre supports that also need to be raised?
- The floor: Will the risers remain stable on the existing flooring?
- The movement: Will the bed remain stable when someone sits on its edge, gets into bed, or uses a transfer aid?
Some beds have several support points, including legs hidden beneath the centre of the frame. Raising only the visible legs can create serious structural problems.
Risers should also not be improvised from loose blocks of wood, bricks, or other materials that aren’t designed for the purpose.
If a bed has wheels or casters, an adjustable base, or an unusual support structure, check the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting to raise it.
Change the bed legs
Some beds have removable legs that can be replaced with compatible legs of a different height.
This can provide a neater solution than placing risers under the existing legs, particularly when the manufacturer offers different leg heights.
The replacement legs must be designed to support the bed safely.
Change the foundation or frame
Just as a lower-profile foundation can reduce bed height, a taller foundation may raise it.
In some cases, replacing the frame or foundation is a better long-term solution than adding risers, especially if the existing bed is unstable or incompatible with accessibility equipment.
A word of caution: Raising a bed isn’t always an improvement. A bed that’s easier to stand up from may become harder to get into. Both movements need to be considered.
What if the Bed Height Is Fine, but Getting Up Is Still Difficult?
Changing the height is only one possible solution.
A person may have trouble sitting up, turning toward the edge of the mattress, getting their feet onto the floor, or pushing themselves into a standing position.
In these situations, an appropriately chosen support can make a substantial difference.
There are several options, but they aren’t interchangeable.
Bed assist handles and shorter bed rails
These are generally designed to provide a handhold for repositioning in bed or getting into and out of it.
Many have a supporting section that fits beneath the mattress, often combined with a strap or another system for securing the equipment to the bed.
Some have relatively short handles, while others extend farther along the mattress.
A shorter handle may be all someone needs to help them sit up or steady themselves when standing.
A longer rail may provide additional support for repositioning or may be intended to help reduce the risk of rolling out of bed.
But longer isn’t necessarily better.
A rail that’s perfectly positioned for one person’s movements may obstruct another person’s natural route out of bed.
Someone may find themselves having to slide toward the foot of the bed to get around the rail, or attempting to climb over it. That defeats the purpose of the equipment and may create new risks.
The placement, length, and intended function of the rail should reflect how the person actually moves.
Check compatibility before buying a bed rail
This is one of the biggest practical challenges I encounter with bedside equipment.
Many products are designed for a particular range of mattress thicknesses, bed structures, or methods of attachment.
Some work with traditional mattresses and box springs. Others can be used with platform beds or slatted frames. Adjustable beds introduce additional complications.
For example, certain bed rails sold by Stander are compatible with conventional platform and slatted beds but specifically exclude adjustable beds. Other models are designed to work with particular adjustable bed platforms.
The distinction matters.
A product that appears suitable in a catalogue may not be appropriate for the actual bed in someone’s home.
Before purchasing, it’s worth establishing:
- What kind of bed frame is being used?
- Does it have a box spring, platform, slats, or an adjustable base?
- How thick is the mattress, and how much does it compress?
- How does the rail attach securely to the bed?
- Where will the person sit, stand, and move around the rail?
- Is the particular product appropriate for the person’s abilities and needs?
The manufacturer’s installation instructions should answer the structural compatibility questions. An occupational therapist can help determine whether the rail and its proposed position are appropriate for the person using it.
An important note about bed rail safety
Bed rails deserve more care than many other household accessibility products.
Health Canada has identified serious risks associated with gaps between bed rails, mattresses, and bed frames. These gaps can create entrapment hazards, particularly for people with limited mobility or cognitive impairment.
There have also been recalls of portable adult bed rails because of entrapment risks.
Rails should never be treated as universally safe or installed without considering the person, the bed, and the specific product. They should not be used as a restraint.
For more information, see Health Canada’s guidance on hospital bed safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also provides useful guidance on adult portable bed rails.
Floor-to-Ceiling Transfer Poles: Another Option
Sometimes the best place for a support isn’t on the bed at all.
Floor-to-ceiling transfer poles provide a vertical handhold that can assist with standing, sitting, and repositioning.
Products such as the HealthCraft SuperPole and other transfer poles can be particularly useful when a bed rail is unsuitable or would interfere with movement.
Some models offer additional horizontal or pivoting handles.
A significant advantage is that the support doesn’t necessarily need to attach to the bed itself. This can be helpful when dealing with unusual frames, platform beds, or other compatibility challenges.
However, transfer poles introduce their own considerations.
The ceiling and floor construction matter.
Depending on the product, installation may require particular ceiling conditions, structural support, floor surfaces, or additional mounting hardware.
A tension-mounted pole isn’t necessarily appropriate for every ceiling. Suspended ceilings, unknown structural conditions, and certain floor coverings can be problematic.
Ceiling height also matters, as different poles accommodate different ranges.
It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s specifications rather than assuming that a pole can simply be placed anywhere between the floor and ceiling.
Placement is just as important as installation
A transfer pole can be structurally secure and still be poorly positioned.
Imagine someone who needs to sit near the edge of the bed, turn, stand, and then reach for a walker.
A pole placed too close to the bed might obstruct their legs or their route toward the walker. Too far away, and they may have difficulty reaching it when they need support.
This is why I think placement deserves as much attention as the product itself.
Where possible, the proposed arrangement should be reviewed with the person who will use it and with the healthcare professional advising on their transfers.
Other Equipment Worth Considering
Bed height adjustments, rails, and transfer poles are among the more common options, but they aren’t the only possibilities.
Bed ladders: These typically consist of a series of handles attached to a strap, allowing someone to use their arms to help move from lying toward sitting. They’re useful for some people but require sufficient strength and an appropriate attachment arrangement.
Bed trapezes: These provide an overhead handle that may help with repositioning or certain movements in bed. Different designs have different structural and clinical requirements.
Adjustable beds: Raising the head of the bed, and in some cases adjusting its overall height, can make certain movements easier. However, the features vary considerably between residential adjustable beds and specialized medical beds.
Specialized or hospital-style beds: For people with more substantial mobility or care needs, a height-adjustable medical bed may be worth considering. These can offer features that ordinary residential beds cannot, including adjustments that assist caregivers.
These aren’t necessarily products to purchase without professional advice. Particularly when someone has significant mobility limitations, an occupational therapist can help identify the equipment that best matches their abilities and needs.
When the Equipment That’s Supposed to Help Gets in the Way
This deserves special attention because it’s something I encounter in accessibility work.
A product may be well made, correctly assembled, and appropriate for its intended purpose, yet still be wrong for a particular person or home.
A bed rail can prevent someone from sitting where they normally sit.
A transfer pole can obstruct the space needed for a walker.
Raising a bed may make standing easier but leave someone’s feet dangling when they’re seated.
And changing a mattress to solve one problem may create a compatibility issue with an existing rail.
This is one reason I encourage people to think about the complete movement rather than the equipment alone.
How does the person get from lying down to sitting?
Where do they place their feet?
What do they hold while standing?
Once they’re standing, how do they reach their walker or other mobility aid?
What happens when they return to bed, particularly at night?
The answers may point toward a simple adjustment, a particular type of equipment, or a combination of changes.
Sometimes, removing an unnecessary obstruction is more helpful than adding another support.
Coming Home From Hospital or Rehabilitation? Plan Ahead
Problems with getting in and out of bed can become particularly urgent when someone is preparing to return home from hospital or rehabilitation.
Families may be given recommendations for grab bars, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, walkers, bed rails, or other equipment.
The challenge is turning those recommendations into a practical arrangement that works in the home.
I recommend three steps.
Talk to the healthcare team before discharge
If possible, discuss home safety and accessibility needs with the care team while the person is still in hospital or rehabilitation.
An occupational therapist or physiotherapist may be able to advise on bed transfers, appropriate equipment, and any special precautions.
Ask questions about how the person is expected to get into and out of bed at home. If equipment is recommended, ask for specific details about the product and its intended use.
A recommendation for a bed rail, for example, is a useful starting point. But the actual rail still needs to be suitable for the person’s bed and transfer needs.
Have the home checked before buying equipment
At Good Company, we offer a free home safety check to help identify practical safety and accessibility concerns.
This includes looking at the physical environment, the type and construction of existing fixtures and furniture, available space, and whether proposed equipment can be installed appropriately.
For bedside equipment, that might mean examining the bed frame and mattress, checking possible mounting arrangements, and considering how the equipment will fit into the bedroom.
Our practical home safety checks complement, rather than replace, clinical assessments by occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals.
Consider having one company coordinate the work
Preparing a home for someone returning from hospital can involve quite a few separate tasks.
A family may need to purchase a walker, arrange a shower chair, install bathroom grab bars, add a stair railing, adjust the bed height, and find a suitable bedside transfer aid.
Each item may appear relatively simple on its own.
But arranging equipment from multiple suppliers, determining compatibility, coordinating delivery and installation, and resolving unexpected problems can become complicated.
This is one of the reasons Good Company offers a coordinated approach.
We can work with the family and, where appropriate, their healthcare professionals to identify practical requirements, source suitable equipment, and complete installations and home modifications.
Having someone familiar with the entire home can be especially valuable. A solution in one room shouldn’t create a new problem somewhere else.
It also helps to identify compatibility problems before equipment is purchased, rather than discovering them during installation.
Before You Buy Anything, Consider These Questions
If getting in or out of bed has become difficult, start with the problem rather than a particular product.
Is the bed too high or too low? Could adjusting the existing bed make a meaningful difference?
Is the difficulty with sitting up, standing, or both? Different problems may require different solutions.
Does the person need something to hold onto? If so, where would that support be most useful?
What kind of bed do they have? A traditional frame and box spring, platform bed, or adjustable bed may require different equipment.
Will a rail or pole interfere with movement? Consider how the person gets out of bed and moves toward a walker, wheelchair, or other support.
Has an occupational therapist or other healthcare professional provided recommendations? These should inform decisions about transfers and suitable assistance.
Will the equipment still be suitable if the person’s mobility changes? This is particularly important during recovery from surgery or illness.
You don’t necessarily need an expensive solution. But it’s worth taking the time to understand the problem before buying something that may not fit or may make movement more difficult.
A Few Final Thoughts
Getting in and out of bed is an everyday activity, but finding the right solution can be surprisingly complicated.
The good news is that there are many possibilities, from inexpensive bed risers and changes to the frame or foundation to specialized rails, transfer poles, and adjustable beds.
The less convenient news is that there’s no universal answer.
In my experience, the variety of beds, mattresses, frames, and support equipment makes this one of the more challenging areas of home accessibility.
That’s also why it’s worth looking beyond the individual product.
The aim isn’t simply to make the bed higher, lower, or equipped with more handles. It’s to make getting into and out of bed easier and safer for the particular person using it.
And sometimes the simplest solution turns out to be the best one.
How Good Company Can Help
Good Company provides practical home safety and accessibility services in Toronto, North York, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Etobicoke, and surrounding communities.
We help families assess their homes, identify suitable adaptations, source equipment, and arrange installations, including grab bars, railings, transfer supports, and other home accessibility improvements.
We also work alongside occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to help implement their recommendations.
Not sure what will work with your bed?
We offer a free home safety check and can help you explore the options before making unnecessary purchases.
Visit Good Company to learn more or get in touch.
About the Author
Jesse Black-Allen is the founder of Good Company, a Toronto-based business specializing in home safety, accessibility installations, and renovations. He is a certified Senior Home Safety Specialist through Age Safe Canada and a CHBA Adaptiv Home Specialist.
Jesse works directly with older adults, people recovering from illness or surgery, and families adapting their homes to changing needs. His experience installing grab bars, railings, transfer supports, and other accessibility equipment gives him firsthand insight into the practical challenges of making homes safer.
Good Company also works alongside occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to help turn their recommendations into practical solutions that work in clients’ homes.